Mountain West Race Heats up
TCU currently sits atop the Conference standings with a 5-0 league record. Colorado State is second with a 3-1 mark, followed by BYU and New Mexico at 3-2. The Horned Frogs can capture their first outright conference championship since 1958 (Southwest Conference) if Colorado State loses at New Mexico Friday and TCU defeats San Diego State Saturday.
Eyeing the Postseason
Several Mountain West Conference teams are eyeing possible bowl bids with just over a month remaining in the season. TCU became the first Mountain West team to earn a bowl berth this year after a 38-17 victory over Army Oct. 15. The Horned Frogs clinched their seventh bowl berth in the last eight years and fourth under head coach Gary Patterson. TCU's last bowl appearance came in 2003 when the Frogs fell to Boise State, 34-31 in the Fort Worth Bowl. New Mexico is currently one win away from its potential fourth straight bowl berth with a 5-3 overall record. Colorado State, Utah and Wyoming each has four wins on the season and is two victories away from becoming bowl eligible.
Lubick Nears 100 Wins
Colorado State head coach Sonny Lubick is one win away from his 100th victory at the helm of the Rams. Lubick is in his 13th season in Fort Collins and boasts a 99-54 record at the school and a 120-74 overall mark. He has led CSU to six conference titles, eight bowl appearances, and four seasons with 10 or more wins.
Four MWC Teams Top 500 Yard of Offense in Week 8
There have been 11 games this season in which MWC teams have eclipsed 500 yards of total offense. Four of those 11 games came in Week 8 of the 2005 season. TCU led the way with 546 total yards in a 48-10 win at Air Force, followed by 534 by New Mexico in a 47-24 victory at San Diego State. Colorado State topped the mark in the Border War win over Wyoming with 521 yards, while Utah had 506 in a 42-32 win at UNLV. TCU, New Mexico and Utah each accomplished the feat on the road and a scored over 40 points in its respective victories.
New Mexico's Moore Approaching Elite NCAA Group
New Mexico tailback DonTrell Moore currently has 968 yards on 203 carries this season. He is 32 yards away from becoming the sixth player in NCAA Division I-A history to rush for 1,000 yards in all four seasons, joining Tony Dorsett (Pittsburgh-1973-76), Amos Lawrence (North Carolina-1977-80), Denvis Manns (New Mexico State-1995-98), Ron Dayne (Wisconsin-1996-99), and Cedric Benson (Texas-2001-04).
In the first six years of the MWC, 12 players have reached the 1,000-yard mark in a single season. Moore has rushed for over 1,000 yards in three straight seasons, including 1,091 in 2004. Moore holds the distinction as the lone running back in Mountain West history to not only have back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, but to accomplish the feat three years in a row. He collected 1,134 yards as freshman in 2002 and finished 2003 with 1,450. Moore is currently the New Mexico and MWC all-time rushing leader with 4,643 yards. He also is currently ranked second nationally among active career rushing leaders behind DeAngelo Williams of Memphis (5,371).
Mountain West Receivers Among the Best in NCAA
In the most recent NCAA statistics, eight MWC wide receivers are ranked in the top 50 for total yardage, including four in the top 25 and three in the top 15. Wyoming's Jovon Bouknight leads the pack ranking third with 843 yards, followed closely by New Mexico's Hank Baskett in fourth with 837 yards. In Week 8 action, the MWC had eight receivers with 100 or more yards.
+ Wyoming WR Jovon Bouknight had a career-high 12 receptions, 187 yards and three TDs as the Cowboys fell at Colorado State.
+ Colorado State WR David Anderson set a new school record in the win over Wyoming with his 14th career 100-yard receiving game. Anderson totaled 169 yards on six receptions and one touchdown.
+ New Mexico WR Hank Baskett went over 100 yards receiving for the fourth time this season and eighth time in his career with 141 yards on seven catches and two TDs in the 47-24 win at San Diego State.
+ San Diego State WR Jeff Webb caught nine passes for 132 yards and two TDs in the 47-24 loss to New Mexico. It was Webb's fourth 100-yard receiving game this season and 10th of his career.
+ TCU WR Cory Rodgers had six receptions for 128 yards and a TD in the victory at Air Force. It was Rodgers second 100-yard game of the season and the seventh of his career.
+ UNLV TE Craig Estandia had 10 catches for 120 yards and two TDs against Utah.
+ Utah WR John Madsen posted his second 100-yard receiving game of the year, catching seven passes for 114 yards in Utah's 42-32 win a UNLV.
+ BYU TE Jonny Harline caught seven passes for 100 yards in the loss at Notre Dame. Harline has three 100-plus yard receiving performances this season and leads the Cougars with 550 yards on 37 catches.
What You May Have Missed in Week 8...
+ Utah RB Quinton Ganther rushed for a career-high 155 yards on 15 carries and scored three touchdowns in the 42-32 victory over UNLV. Ganther averaged 10.3 yards per rush and had TD runs of 63 and 40 yards in a 21-point Utah third quarter. It was his fourth 100-yard performance this season and most yards for a Ute runner since Brandon Warfield went for 181 yards on 36 carries at Texas A&M on Sept. 7, 2003. It also was Ganther's first career multiple-TD game.
+ TCU QB Jeff Ballard completed 20-of-28 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns while also running for a score in the 48-10 victory at Air Force. It was the Frogs first 300-yard passing game since Tye Gunn threw for 368 yards in last year's season-opening 48-45 double-overtime victory over Northwestern.
+ UNLV QB Jarrod Jackson had a career-high 359 yards passing on 29-of-54 attempts and three touchdowns in the 42-32 loss to Utah. Jackson was the first player to throw for over 300 yards against Utah in 21 games.
+ Colorado State RB Kyle Bell rushed 35 times for 123 yards in the 39-31 Boader War victory over Wyoming. It was Bell's fourth 100-yard game of the season.
